The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1887-12-03
MEMORIES OF LINCOLN.
BY A BRooKLYNlTE WHO READ
LAW IN HIS OFFICE.
An Interview with i. ii. littlefield, Now
II Portrait Puinter-Intcrcstins Remin-
isccnccs of Americas Great Commoner.

isccncc> of Americas Great Commoner.
Lincoln's Striking Characteristics.
called the other day at the studio of Mr..
J. H. l.ittlctieltl on Montague street He was
jus, puttin., the finishing touches upon his
new portrait of Mr.. Bcecher. which las since
been exhibited upon Fulton street. Mr..
Beechcr sat for him during the trial and
again ON his 10Th birthday. The conversa-
ton turned to the days when Mr.. Littletield
was Il student in Mr. I.incolns office in
Springfield. His, and ono thing led to
another until the following interesting
"reminiscences of Americas great commoner
had been elected
YES, said Mr.. Littletield, Il was a stu
dent i'll Mr.. Lincoln's Office for over two
years, and the way came to get there was
very singular indeed. My brother, Gen. NJ.
S. Lit .letiel,l, was present a; one of the joint
debates at Ottawa, Ills, between Lincoln and
DOUGLAS in the famous canvass for the Sen;l-
:.torsl,ip in 1855. After the speaking was
o.er Mr. Douglas friends took him away
with u brass band and amid great rnthusi-
assn For moment Mr.. Lincoln stood alone,
then those who svmpathizca with his sentl-
nlents and had been greatly affected by his
nulsterlv speech made Il rush for him and
carried him bodily To his hotel. My brother
and another gentleman did most OF the carry
ing. and when iiel had got to the hotel he
said 10 Nh I.i:u.oln: Il have brother whom
| would v..,y much like to have enter your
Office, ~, a s.u.leut' All right WAS his re
,ly. send linn down aud We will take look
al him. was thon atudyinls law at Grand
Ra,,,.t,. ti;,h.. i.li oa hearing from my
bro, !..r. i.,}:nrunt,l, packed up and started
for .;i,rin 81 Id arrived ;hcrc on Saturday
ni.et 81, ,N,t ~. II ihe American house.
On s.;;i,'..y II !.n!'''ln WAS pointed ont ia
M. !,.!5 i,,ain!~r this first sight of him.
HI ~ ,rl.i,ts along holding little Tad,
thu W. 6 vcarS "ll. 9y the hand, who
COZ ~, ,-rra;cS, difficulty keep ul
Wit l..;l r" la t!r morning applied ut
thc % .!:p.u. l.i..cpin " JIcrndon for admis-
sion ;.," ,,,',;''U.
II :.ur..iiig entered The office Mr. Lin
coin ;.l HI i,u,ncr, William II. Herndon,
wcrn lot!! present Ml Lincoln addressed
hi, palt lar thus: Billie. this is the young
nla,l ol vhni, s;r'lic to You. Whatever ar
,;nac,..,'n vou make with him will be salts
factor Ia me" Then turning to Inc he said:
i
Your studios "f Blackstone and Kent as did
Two N,.,:t' htril whom We had here. Do you
500 that ;.a; over th"rc:' pointing to large
in!, stain on the wall. Well. one of those
vo!,!.t ,inil g"t 81 enthusiastic in his pursuit
If i"..al lrc that hr fired an inkstand at the
other .nr'- head and that is the mark ht
pi;u:c ] immediately began to clean vi
about he office IL little Mr.. Lincoln had
b, c.i in congress and had the usual amount ol
seed, To Distribute 'n the farmers. These
w,i., srnt out with Free Soil and Repubcu
documents In my efforts to clear up
found hat some of the seeds had sprouted ii
the dirt tiia! had collected in the Office.
PLEADING a HORSE CASE.
"Judgr Logan and Mr., Lincoln We're once
engaged on opposite sides of horse case
judge Logan displayed a great deal of knowl
r:" about humc@. and. rs was the custom
with law yrrs at that day, i'll the heat nf tllt
,l.si.nlni lad laid oil his coat and vest. tu
fortunately for him he had put his shirt Oh
hind side before When he had finished MIR
Lincoln arose and asked his opponent if ht
would please rise The judge complied
VIII y"n please turn Your back to the jury
Now, gentlemen "f the jury said Lincoln
W tit't St,li W itiNt
logai's l.nowleclgr "f horses when lie doesn't
klinw crua-h to put his shirt on right sid,
foremost when he comes into COURT a roai
Il l.,ls, it"r followed his sally, and when MIR
I.inro!" had finished his argument the jury
gave = v,r,liri in Iii, favor.
Mr.. l.ncoiH was engaged in case which
mad. great deal OF stir in Illinois while
was II stud nj in his otiico. Orc Greek Graf
ton. n strong hurlv fellow, was paying at
trntiols t"n Young lady living III the vicinity
O! Springfield She had another suitnr II,
t!lc same time by the name of Quinn Harri
SON Grafton told Harrison if he didn't cease
his attention, 10 the ycung lady he would
thrash him. Harrison replied that if h.
made MI attack upon him he would defend
himself Grafton one day came to til. post
Office. and. seeing Harrison reading n news
paprr. tire. his arms around him and tried
e. l.o!d him. Harrison struggled away, and
drawing II dagger pilnse'l it into Grafton
..tsl>. Crattou'S lawyers claimed on the
trial that he acted III sclf defense. | was in
the court wh,n Mr.. Lincoln made his speech
before t!.,. jury for Harrison. He used this
Illustration: IN til" carly days party OF
rlcn went o,!t to hunt The wild boar. When
tide Eu.ne was seen one of the hunters immn
ii it"lv climbed tree, the other seized the
game hv the car, ard after several inetrec
tual tlisSlc> with linn lie cri"d la his comlpan
ion who wa, III, the tree: For Gods sake
.jiul. r,l.lr down and help me to lit go" Sir
I.inrola made this aspiration Of the story
ii Grafton took hold of Harrison i'll self de-
fcns,, it follows l"gi"ally that he would have
to continue to hold him for all time and that
eventually be would require some one to hell
li:i 1T go The inry gave verdict of az
qu.tal for Nh. Linroln's client,
Mr.. Lincoln wa, an indefati.!able news
paper reader aud was noted for his ia
m.iia:i'v with political affairs in all parts o1
the culn,ry he subscribed for scvcra
lals.l'- published in the .outh-onc know
came from south Carolina He had an in
lIlncraEtlr number If anecdotes of publ,
,u"n AWAY at the end of his tongue He ha,
--reat t"na"itr Of memory, and once fac
WIS fxei in his mind he never forgot it
HIS foi,nc>s for telling stories is often al
ln1'cl To-. hut be possessed a certain dign;t,
that lrcvcnt-'l persons from going only j!s
81 far wifi t,is,,n. People called him l-ncl,
Abe Joe Infpr" hr was nominated for thc
preside. ali'i often have sen him >;rtin.
on - OPS Of store; chatting with hi
1ri-n.l- va. relaxation from professiona
cares ~ wor!d =" out and play ball TIL,
gang ,,:.- what WAS called barn ball, and il
CONSISTED in knocking .i!c ball against thu
side Of q. !".i!'ing and then hitting it again
on ,le rclp,uni. lave seen Sir. Lincoln &c
intn tl1i. sI',rt with . great deal Of zcst
No,v-it!ls ;,Ednag his love ior good storic.
an, funny :-aving; BE- usually had a forlor1
~: >s;t,, ~! his fare and ai1naretl man.